'It will 100% happen' - Aakash Chopra on likelihood of two IPLs per year

Former India opening batter Aakash Chopra reckons that there would be two editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in a single year in the future. The IPL first began in 2008 as an annual tournament played among eight franchises for around two months. There were ten teams in the 2022 season after the addition of Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. 

Chopra feels staging of IPL twice a year is on the cards regardless of the requirement. He also said that there could be longer editions of IPL with more games, followed by a small edition. The 44-year-old featured in the first two editions of the IPL as a player with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2008 and 2009. He was later signed by Rajasthan Royals in 2011. 

It is the natural evolution of a tournament like the IPL: Aakash Chopra

Chopra, a regular presence in the Hindi commentary box during matches, and an active pundit of the game, shared his thoughts about the future of the IPL on his YouTube channel. He said that the market forces are going to decide the fate of the IPL, while he also reckons the tournament might remain unchanged for the next five years. 

Chopra, on a different note, spoke about the requirement of T20 Internationals (T20I). Former India coach Ravi Shastri opined that the bilateral T20I must be discontinued to make way for more franchise cricket. Chopra, however, had a different opinion, stating that T20Is must continue for fans and broadcasters. He also added that One-day Internationals (ODI) were boring and not engaging for fans and broadcasters.

“When you talk about this, then you feel if two IPLs are required. It does not matter whether it is required or not. Will it happen or won’t happen? That is the big question and I feel it will happen. It will 100% happen, there will be a big IPL, where there will be 94 matches, and one small IPL which will be over in one month, where all teams will play each other maybe once,” said the former Indian opener. 

“Once you have sown the seeds, which was in your hands, and given them water for a few days, after that it takes its own course. Now it can become a huge banyan tree, all that can happen. Now it is the natural evolution of a tournament like the IPL,” Chopra added.